How To: Nap

Although some men will disagree, there may be no greater feeling than a daytime nap. The opportunity to free your mind of the real world — deadlines, debates, proposals, and all of that fun stuff — is an opportunity seldom secured. But it's an opportunity that few would turn down. After all, aside from the feelings of intense awesomeness that follow a timely siesta, daytime dozing has been shown to improve memory as well as alertness (yeah, try pitching that to your boss). So, to keep you alert and productive throughout the day, AskMen.com has decided to provide you with some of the finer points of napping. Here is how to nap.

get to sleep

Although it may sound stupid, in order to nap, you need to fall asleep. Considering that your environment and other external demands largely impact your ability to catch some shuteye, fitting in a quick catnap may be more difficult than you think. Careful preparation will, therefore, better ensure your chances of success as you figure out how to nap.

Pre-nap preparation

First off, make sure that all immediate commitments are taken care of. An unfinished to-do list can weigh on your mind and prevent you from getting the beauty rest you so desperately need. Whether it's a quick phone call, e-mail or note that needs to be addressed, take care of that first. Also, pay attention to the foods you eat prior to napping: Avoid consuming foods high in fats and sugar, as these might muck up your ability of achieving that midday nap. Instead, opt for foods likely to promote sleep, such as those high in calcium and protein.

Pick a location

Finding a reasonable site for respite can be one of the most difficult tasks when it comes to how to take a nap. Ultimately, you'll want to find somewhere clean, quiet and dark; somewhere you won't be disturbed, but somewhere that's comfortable as well. The backseat of your car, a park bench, an off-site conference room, a local library, a low-hanging tree branch, or even a nice patch of grass can all serve as suitable sites for sleep. If all else fails, your cubicle might be your only friend. In this case, though, try to at least disguise what you're doing.

Fall asleep

Once you target a location, the act of actually falling asleep is entirely on you. Whether listening to relaxing music does the trick or perhaps tuning into the faint sounds around you works best, whatever works for you will need to be explored. Also, keep in mind that the more naps you take, the easier it'll become. Practice does indeed make perfect when it comes to learning how to nap.